Caltrans officials are encouraging asphalt producers to take advantage of a Job Mix Formula (JMF) prequalification program in advance of next year's paving season.

First implemented in 2018 to address bottlenecks in JMF approvals, the JMF-PP allows asphalt producers to submit a JMF for verification before a mix is needed on an active Caltrans project. Once verified, a supplier receives a completed CEM-3513 Form, and the mix is added to a statewide prequalified JMF list. That list can be viewed HERE.

A verified mix can be used on multiple Caltrans projects without repeating the full verification process provided all applicable requirements are met.

The prequalification idea was an outgrowth of meetings between Caltrans and asphalt industry representatives seeking to streamline approval processes.

"Completing verification early helps (producers), Caltrans districts and laboratories coordinate production, hot drops and testing before paving starts," Caltrans said in an announcement. "This advance planning supports project readiness and reduces the risk of schedule impacts during construction. There is no JMF-PP program participation fee."

As word spreads about the option, the department says participation in the program has continued to grow. From 2018 through 2023 the JMF-PP received 138 submittals. Annual submittals increased from 20 in 2025 to 65 in 2026. "This increase shows that (producers) are using JMF-PP to prepare for upcoming work and reduce project risk," the Department said in the announcement.

For more information on the JMF-PP, visit a special Caltrans webpage devoted to the topic HERE, or send an e-mail inquiry to: JMF.Submittals@dot.ca.gov .

A Feb.17, 2020 issue of Asphalt Insider that includes a report on the JMF-PP program is HERE. An update on the program as it relates to RAP in RHMA guidance that appeared in the March 2, 2026 issue of Asphalt Insider is HERE.

The message from the electorate nationally in last week's Midterm Elections was unmistakable: voters are angry and want change. In California, however, the message was a bit more muted. What does this mean for the asphalt industry? We'll get to that in a moment. But first, a few noteworthy items:

The so-called "Blue Tsunami" that swept across the nation Nov. 3 did impact the Golden State, reducing the number of Republicans in California's 52-member Congressional delegation from nine to four -- a historic low, and small enough to fit into a booth in Denny's.

Incumbent Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, a veteran Democrat, lost to City Councilwoman Nithya Raman, who was endorsed by the far left Democratic Socialists of America.

Reasonable voices, such as U.S. Rep. James Gallagher, a Republican representing a formerly safe conservative district in the North State, was ousted partly by a "wave" election and partly because his district was redrawn by June's Prop. 50. In all, it is estimated that the new lines contributed to five Republicans losing their seats.

All statewide offices, including Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer and Attorney General, went to Democrats, and the Legislature solidified its Democrat-super majority status for 2027. The last Republican to hold a statewide office in California was Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

So exactly what changed in California? The state, after all, was solidly blue before the election and emerged pretty much the same.

A closer examination of the results, however, as well as some interesting exit-poll data helps shed a bit more light on what was on the minds of voters as they cast their ballots. Perhaps most striking was a credible exit-poll conducted in all 50 states by the Associated Press that found one of the top concerns of voters was corruption.

This aligns with other surveys that have found the electorate is seeking competence in government, and tangible ways the government is making their lives better. Higher costs in the grocery store, at the pump and elsewhere are certainly a top concern, but the pain of the high cost of living coupled with a perception that tax dollars are being wasted clearly resonated.

Getting back to basics, including fixing streets, was a key message of Los Angeles Mayor-Elect Nithya Raman, a virtual unknown earlier this year before she jumped into the mayoral scrum at the 11th hour. She campaigned tirelessly about quality-of-life issues for Angelenos, such as the high cost of housing, intractable homelessness and dilapidated infrastructure. While she touts her commitment to fixing streets, she also was a staunch supporter of Measure HLA, a city ballot initiative passed in 2024 that requires the installation of bicycle, transit and pedestrian enhancements before streets can be repaved. It has been blamed for a severe drop in road repairs in the city. How she will reconcile these two apparently conflicting positions remains to be seen.

At the top of the statewide ticket, Democrat Xavier Becerra easily won election as governor, replacing termed-out Democrat Gavin Newsom. Becerra has portrayed himself as a competent leader with many years of government experience behind him in Congress, as California Attorney General and Health & Human Services Secretary in the Biden administration. His campaign was light on specifics, but he'll need to propose a new statewide budget shortly after being sworn in to office n January, which should be telling. The non-partisan Legislative Analyst's Office projects the state will face a budget shortfall of perhaps $18 billion or more.

Some other reasonable voices will keep their jobs, including U.S. Rep. Vince Fong, a Republican representing the Bakersfield area. CalAPA members may recall he spoke at the CalAPA Annual Dinner in 2023 when he was a member of the Legislature. Also returning to Sacramento is Assembly Transportation Committee Chair Lori Wilson, who also spoke at CalAPA's Annual Dinner last year.

Oh, and voters decided not to punish the richest Californians with a new tax. Prop. 40 appeared to be going down to defeat in the latest vote tally.

So what does all this mean for the asphalt industry in California? It's a bit of a mixed bag. California continues to be a solidly blue state, at least judging by the makeup of the Legislature and California's Congressional delegation. However, there are plenty of reasonable voices among those elected officials who understand how red tape can stymie housing construction (and the roads connecting all that development).

There's also a strong anti-corruption sentiment among voters, and wasting tax dollars is in a way a form of corruption. That may play into the hands of the backers of Senate Bill 1, the $50 billion Road Repair & Accountability Act of 2017, which has delivered far less "road improvements" than promised. There may be a day of reckoning on that front in a new administration.

And California, which birthed the Prop. 13 anti-tax revolt of the 1970s that helped propel Republican Ronald Reagan to the White House in the 1980s, still demonstrated a healthy skepticism about new taxes.

As more than one astute political observer has noted in recent days, voters who went one way in a "change" election can quickly go the other way if the change they seek does not produce meaningful results that they can see in their everyday lives. In other words, it's not what they say, but what they do that matters. Voters will be watching.

The Secretary of State will certify the results of the election on Dec. 11. The preliminary results of the various races can be found HERE.

CalAPA is pleased to welcome its newest asphalt producer member, Kelterite Corp.

Based in Downey, Kelterite supplies asphalt to customers throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties. The Kelterite facility features six 300-ton asphalt storage silos, allowing the company to keep multiple sizes and types of mix on hand and ready to supply large and small jobs quickly and efficiently.

In addition to producing asphalt, the facility also accepts Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP), concrete and clean broken asphalt.

For more information, contact (562) 401-0011, or visit the company website HERE.

When shellshocked members of Congress return to Washington this week, now for a "lame duck" session before a new Congress -- under control of a new party -- takes over in January, the asphalt industry will be keeping a close watch on two items of particular interest.

First, funding for the federal government is set to expire on Dec. 11, so Congress must approve some sort of funding extension before adjourning for the year. A bipartisan surface transportation act made it out of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee earlier this year, but it faces long odds to jump through all the other hoops to become law before distracted lawmakers head for the exits. In lieu of a long-term transportation fuinding bill, another short-term funding extension seems the more likely path, punting the long-term funding issue to the next Congress. The long-term Highway Trust Fund reform priorities of the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), a CalAPA partner, can be found HERE. The website includes a tool to reach out to your elected representative on the issue.

Another asphalt industry priority, permitting reform, also faces long odds in a crowded "lame duck" session, but may have more support. Intended to expedite major construction projects, the bill has bipartisan support and some supporters are pushing action before the end of the year. More information on this priority from NAPA is HERE.

One thing is for certain: with such a historic election fresh in everyone's minds, the nation's Capitol will be buzzing.

Today marks the founding of the California Asphalt Pavement Association in Los Angeles on Nov. 9, 1953.

The medallion pictured is of the association's original incorporation stamp, which is proudly on display in CalAPA's West Sacramento offices. To put the milestone in perspective, the California companies that made their debut in 1953 include what would be come the Denny's restaurants chain and the motion picture arm of Disney. The companies that disappeared during that time are too numerous to count, but you could probably name several off the top of your head.

The history that has taken place over those 73 years boggles the mind, from wars, economic recessions, moon landings, and 14 presidential administrations. Last week's historic Midterm Election almost seems like a blip in comparison.

This association has also marked the time of California history. Gov. Earl Warren resigned just as the California Asphalt Pavement Association was being formed, appointed by President

Dwight D. Eisenhower to the Supreme Court. He was followed by 10 governors, including two movie stars (Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger), a father and son (Pat Brown and Jerry

Brown), and one who was turned out of office by voters in California's first-ever successful recall

election (Gray Davis). California's first elected Latino governor, Xavier Becerra, will be sworn in in January.

And still CalAPA endures. Let's hear it for consistency of purpose, and tip our hard hat to all members, past and present, for contributing to this lasting legacy, which keeps growing with each passing year.

Each week we highlight a word, acronym or other term commonly used in the asphalt pavement industry in California.

TACK COAT: A coat of bituminous material applied to a surface to prepare the latter for subsequent applications of aggregate and bituminous materials. For additional information on this topic, a May 2024 Caltrans publication titled "Tack Coat Guidelines" can be found HERE. The Caltrans specification language related to tack coats is referenced in Section 39.2 ("Hot Mix Asphalt"), Section 92 ("Asphalt Binders") and Section 94 ("Asphaltic Emulsions"). The latest Standard Specifications can be downloaded HERE.

Each week we highlight a key point or best practice of interest to asphalt paving crews, inspectors and others working in the field. We welcome suggestions. More tips can be found in our "Asphalt Parking Lot Construction Checklist" HERE. Information on the CalAPA "Quality Paving Certificate" program is HERE.

COMPACTION / DENSITY: The plans and specifications should specify how density is tested. The inspector needs to monitor the specified compaction density with a gauge to ensure that final target densities are achieved. Regular visual inspection of the mat during compaction is also required: look for segregation, indentations, properly sealed joints, and under-compacted areas.

Each week we highlight a term that is specific to climate-change issues related to the asphalt pavement industry. This feature is intended to raise awareness of the asphalt industry's climate-change initiatives and the specialized terminology that goes with them. More information on "The Road Forward" asphalt industry climate initiative can be found HERE. A recent CalAPA magazine story on the topic is HERE.

PRODUCT CATEGORY RULES: Product category-specific requirements for conducting a life cycle assessment.

Editor's Note: As a convenience to our readers, Asphalt Insider reports the most current Caltrans "Statewide Crude Oil Price Index" posting. The department posts this monthly on its public website HERE. The index is used to calculate payment adjustments for paving asphalt under special provisions section "Payment Adjustments for Price Index Fluctuations" in those projects containing the section. The department posts the index on or about the first business day of the month using the daily Brent crude oil prices from the previous month as reported by Business Insider. Inquiries about the index should be directed to Caltrans at: Oil.Index@dot.ca.gov .

November 2026: $594.3 ($/ton)

Last month: $557.6

1 year ago: $344.1

"As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live."

– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

We hope you enjoy CalAPA's Asphalt Insider newsletter, widely regarded as the most influential publication of its type in California. We are committed to providing you with the most up-to-date information on technical issues, regulation, news, analysis, people, events and trends in California that is of interest to the asphalt pavement industry and our various agency partners. To subscribe to the newsletter, click HERE. For comments, questions or to suggest a story idea, click HERE. We are committed to promptly notifying our readers of any errors in this publication. Please click on the comment link above to alert the editor of any errors or omissions.

Sincerely,

Russell W. Snyder, CAE

Executive Director

The California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA)®